CAST LIST

SYNOPSIS

Alex and Ed are preparing to test a new Weapon: a Microwave Interference Transmission device (MIT) which Alex thinks would be better named an "Engine Killer". Asking Ed to explain its operation, it’s clear that Alex not only files at the Bureau but she reads the files too… and knows considerably more than Ed gives her credit for. Preparing to test the weapon, Ed starts up and drives away on a bike, whilst Alex prepares to "fire" the MIT weapon at him. Both are unaware they are being watched by a man in combat fatigues and another man in a suit, who shoots a gas cannister under the van where Alex is standing. Temporarily disabled the two men go to steal the MIT gun: but Alex quickly recovers and is able to disable the man in the suit, but is then attacked by the other. As he takes the gun his partner (Trozek) throws two grenades under the van itself. With seconds to spare Ed gets back to the van and rescues Alex before the whole area explodes…

Back at the Bureau, Beckett chides Ed for the failed exercise: Ed maintains the site was secure, whilst Beckett seems more interested in whether Ed was thinking more of Alex than the exercise itself. Alex is using computer software to try to jog her memory of the faces of her assailants. Ros appears, wanting to talk to Beckett about Project Darkling (which Alex already knows is a Code Red satellite-based defence system!) About to retrieve the weekly access code (which only Beckett has access to) Beckett is interrupted and called downstairs to sign for a package from Van Straaten Diamonds. Upstairs Ros is suitably impressed with the package’s contents, a Van Straaten Security pass: without which Beckett would be unable to pick up the man about to fly into the country to accept the Ripkin Peace Prize. Ros can’t believe Beckett’s blazé nature about meeting Pieter Van Straaten, but Beckett just sees the man as another politician…Ros continues to protest, especially when Beckett shows her his ticket for the Peace Prize Ceremony. A fan of Van Straaten, Ros is desperate to get to the Ceremony: however, as Beckett gleefully points out, there are some things even money can’t buy. Outside the Bureau, the "courier" leaves and reveals himself as the camouflaged man who attacked Ed and Alex. Phoning his "boss" Trozek he confirms Beckett has been taken in by the "Fake" pass, which in reality is a tracer and transmitter. The pair can now follow Beckett wherever he goes.

The Security cavalcade is waiting for Van Straaten at the Airport, where a smarter than usual Beckett meets Jan for a briefing. Aware their presence is not simply to act as Security, Beckett asks Jan for the real reason behind Van Straaten’s arrival. Jan tells him he is here to try and resolve the peace process in Khirghizia, which began to move forward once Marius Trozek left the equation. Van Straaten intends to sit down with the enclave factions before the Awards ceremony, and to announce the peace breakthrough in his speech afterwards, and if anything were to happen to him in the meantime… Beckett is already unhappy about the ostentatious nature of Van Straaten’s convoy, and suggests to the man himself that he’d be safer travelling in Beckett’s off-roader. Happy to agree, the peacemaker accompanies him, much to Jan’s annoyance. Ros meanwhile is signing a new set of deals for Channing, who has managed to secure her tickets for the Ripkin Peace Prize Ceremony (as the late Mr. Ripkin was a friend of his father). Ros knows there is a unique "price" for the tickets: she will have to make a personal appearance at the "Technovention" event on Channing’s behalf. Unhappy at the thought of any kind of high-profile marketing Channing reminds her that the event is being held in Barbados, and that he has tickets for the First Cricket Test… and Ros is sold.

Beckett and Van Straaten are travelling from the airport, unaware that Trozek is tracking them. Using a personal organiser, Van Straaten admits this is the only way he can keep track of the factions involved. He also admits it was Jan who provided him with the information that ultimately discredited Trozek and removed him from the negotiations. Not proud of what he did Van Straaten admits it was a necessary evil to get the peace talks to their present state. Trozek and his henchman are waiting for the pair, armed not only with gas but also with the MIT weapon. Disabling Beckett’s engine is simple, and as he brings the off-roader to a safe stop the gas forces the pair out and into Trozek’s hands. Bundling the pair into a custom-built military carrier the disgraced leader drives away. Jan is mortified at the catalogue of disasters: the theft of the MIT, Beckett’s kidnapping and the more important threat in her eyes to the eastern European peace process. Ros, Alex and Ed take a real dressing-down as a result of these failures, and when Ed successfully identifies Trozek as the IMF weapon’s abductor. Jan takes control of the Bureau and sends the threesome out to find answers.

Trozek and his partner (General Chenlov) come face to face with Van Straaten and Beckett, who are both locked in a cell at the back of Trozek’s transport. Angry and humiliated by Van Straaten’s treatment of him in front of his own people Trozek wants revenge, but is willing to wait for his moment. The General meanwhile cryptically tells the captive pair he is in the right position to end the war in his own way, and will do soon. Left to wait in their cell, Van Straaten prompts Beckett for a way out: Beckett in turn prompts Van Straaten for his personal organiser… Trozek broadcasts his demands (for ten million), intercepted by Ros and watched by the Bureau team. Unsuccessful in their trace of the signal, Ros is able to identify Chenlov as Trozek’s camera operator, and as the courier who bought Beckett’s pass to the Bureau. However Beckett is no-where to be seen, much to Alex’s consternation. The real reason for kidnapping Van Straaten becomes clear: it’s actually Beckett who is of more interest to General Chenlov. He and only he has the access codes for Project Darkling, whose missiles could be used to end Chenlov’s war in a way he would be happy with. The death toll is irrelevant: including Beckett himself. However, the barrel of a gun against his head doesn’t affect Beckett’s determination not to give Chenlov the access code. Switching the gun to Van Straaten however does, and Beckett is forced to start talking about what makes Project Darkling tick…

Back at the Bureau, Ros receives two air tickets by courier and lets slip she’ll be travelling to Barbados with Channing. However she’s more interested in augmenting the video signal of Trozek’s ransom demand. With some work Ros is able to identify a radio transmitter outside the window of Trozek’s transport: and some common sense from Alex sends Ed out to try to track Beckett down. Van Straaten’s personal organiser finally comes to good use as Beckett is able to transmit a signal to Ros telling her of Trozek’s true intentions: and it becomes apparent that Darkling is not as big a secret as it has been painted as being. Receiving a message from Ros telling them that Ed is on their trail, Beckett knows both he and Van Straaten are still alive because the access code needs to be verified-a process that will happen soon as Trozek confirms to Chenlov that the satellite will soon be in range. Ros locates the communications tower and gives Ed instructions on how to reach the transport: he sets off in pursuit as Beckett tries to find a way out of his cell: instead he finds something more useful-the IMF device. Before he gets the chance to use it Ed stops the transport in a more conventional way, by throwing his off-roader in front of it. The transport crashes into a tree: in the ensuing chaos Van Straaten is unable to escape but Beckett gets out, but drops the IMF weapon on his way. With Chenlov firing at him Ed puts his off-roader between the bullets and Beckett, as Trozek restarts the transport. Retrieving the IMF gun and shooting out the tyres on Ed’s vehicle the renegades make their getaway, leaving Beckett and Ed to bicker on who’s fault the situation really is.

Trozek loses the chance to transmit to the satellite and realises he will have to wait for the next satellite pass to send the signal to Darkling. Chenlov wants to kill Van Straaten, but realises if he does so a vital negotiation tool will be lost. Alex meanwhile has discovered Chenlov’s ‘phone call to Trozek after the fake security pass was delivered. With Ros’ help she augments the signal, allowing Ros to identify the cellphone number and try a trick which will allow her to turn Trozek’s phone into a microphone. Phoning the number has the required effect, and Ros and Alex listen to Trozek planning his next move. Ed meanwhile has arrived at the Bureau with Beckett, and decides that this is the moment to tell him about Ros’ planned trip to Barbados with Channing. To say Beckett is unhappy with the news is an understatement. However his personal feelings are secondary as Trozek successfully accesses Darkling and programs the missile launches to co-incide with the signing of Van Straaten’s peace treaty, and changes the Access Code to the satellite, effectively locking Beckett and the Bureau out. Beckett realises with the satellite under their control Van Straaten is no longer essential, and needs a plan to convince Trozek he is actually worth more to him alive than dead.

Despite Jan’s protestations, the Bureau staff devises a plan to trap Trozek and save Van Straaten. Knowing Trozek is greedy Beckett suggests using Van Straaten himself as the bait: they know he is iris-identified to access any part of his own diamond company’s building. Using the unique makeup of the iris of his eye as a lock (a system which Ros herself tested) Van Straaten can give Trozek a way to a fortune in diamonds, something the team hope will prove just too great a temptation. As "bait" Ros assumes the identity of a criminal, Shelly Lammers, and contacts Trozek by mobile phone: and with her persuasion Trozek (despite Chenlov’s reservations) takes the bait. An hour later Trozek meets "Shelly" and the deal is quickly struck (with Ed watching close by). Beckett is waiting at the Van Straaten Diamond Building with Alex, whose job it is to cut the power on Beckett’s signal. Ed has his sights on Trozek’s transport, and stopping the missiles. Van Straaten is surprised Trozek is after money and not concentrating on Darkling: however, a remote unit on Trozek’s belt will allow him to fire the missiles whenever he chooses. Unwilling to help the pair in their plans it is "Shelly" that convinces the businessman to play along and use the iris ident system to enter the building, which Trozek shoots as they pass. Alex’s curiosity gets the better of her when she hears the gunshots and she leaves her place by the master power switch: emerging outside the building she is seen by Chenlov, who recognises her from the IMF test and sets off in pursuit. With the transport unguarded Ed has an opportunity to break in and disable the missiles, whilst Beckett has set up a light pulse weapon to blind Trozek as he exits the lift.

Ed blows the lock on the transport door as the lift moves to the top floor: as Ros, Trozek and Van Straaten emerge Beckett sets off the light pulse, allowing Van Straaten to be rescued and Trozek to be pushed into the lift. However, Alex is unable to cut the power thanks to intervention by Chenlov. Hearing from Van Straaten about the remote trigger and Ed’s inability to shut down the missiles from the transport, Beckett directs everyone to try and stop Trozek. Alex makes her move on Chenlov and has him in a headlock until Trozek knocks her out: the General is unimpressed with his leader’s greed, but Trozek is confident with the remote and seconds to go until he can fire the missiles. Ed however has located the IMF device in the Transport… as Trozek and Chenlov bicker and the general is shot by his superior, Ed rushes into the Van Straaten building hoping to test the IMF weapon on something more than an engine. Opening the lift doors on the Ground Floor he fires the IMF into the lift shaft…with devastating results. All power in the building is interrupted, the remote trigger disabled and Trozek’s lift plummets to an abrupt end. Mindful of getting Van Straaten to his treaty signing, Beckett is leaving as Ros informs him not only of her ticket to the Ripkin Peace Prize Ceremony, but of the need to book some leave…

Ed and Beckett offer to housesit Ros’ place whilst she and Channing are away. Ed is concerned that there could be a leak in the Bureau, but Beckett’s only concern seems to be with Ros and Channing’s deepening relationship…